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Authors: Melissa F. Miller
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their drinks. Sasha spoke first. “ I think you ’ re in danger. ”
“ In danger? ” Laura echoed.
Sasha waited.
Reality hit Laura and she struggled to breathe. “ You mean the message carved in my driver ’ s door? ”
“ Probably. ”
Laura was about to ask who would do such a thing, but she stopped herself. She knew full well who. Jim Moraine, that ’ s who. All of his stupid helpful tips and veiled suggestions that she approve fire claims flooded her memory. He ’ d been watching her all along, trying to get her to comply with whatever scheme he was mixed up in. She rested her cup on the table and clasped her shaking hands together as if she were praying in a futile effort to still them.
“ This is more than plain vanilla insurance fraud, isn ’ t it? ” she whispered.
“ I think so. Arson for profit? That ’ s usually the mob. ”
The mob. As in a network of career criminals, sworn to silence, all gunning for her to keep her quiet. Laura wasn ’ t sure she ’ d be able to speak. “ What am I going to do? ”
“ I have an idea. ”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Sasha kept one eye on Yim, who sat to her left, legs crossed at the knees, swinging her top leg so violently that Sasha half-expected to see her achieve airborne status and fling herself out of the chair. With her other eye, she watched Charlotte Cashion ’ s secretary whisper into her phone ’ s handset. The woman murmured something into the phone, replaced the receiver, and stood up.
She walked around to the front of the desk and gestured for Sasha and Yim to stand. “ Ms. Cashion can see you now. ”
They followed her across the plush carpet to Charlotte Cashion ’ s office door and waited while she gave it a quick double-rap with her knuckles. After a brief pause, she opened the door inward and ushered them into the office. Charlotte was making her way across the office toward them.
“ Sasha, this is a nice surprise! ” She smiled broadly and offered a restrained hug. “ What ’ s it been — at least a couple years? ”
“ Probably. I think the last time I saw you was at Matt and Darla ’ s wedding, ” Sasha answered. She inspected the Assistant U.S. Attorney. In the two-plus years since their lovebird classmates had tied the knot, Charlotte hadn ’ t changed much. She was maybe slightly blonder and somehow slightly more moneyed-looking than she ’ d been at the wedding. Presumably, she was supplementing her government servant salary with infusions from her trust fund.
“ Speaking of weddings, I heard you had one of your own, ” Charlotte enthused. “ Congratulations! ”
“ Thanks. We ’ re coming up on a year in just a few weeks, so, you know, so far, so good. ” She waited until Charlotte finished laughing and then introduced Yim. “ Charlotte, this is Laura Yim, she ’ s a claims adjuster for an insurance company headquartered in Jersey City. ” Mid-Atlantic was one of several insurers to maintain New Jersey headquarters, so Sasha felt comfortable sharing that level of detail without securing any assurances first.
“ Pleased to me you, Miss Yim, ” Charlotte said, all business now, as she shook hands with Yim. “ I ’ m Assistant United States Attorney Charlotte Cashion. Please, have a seat and tell me what I can do for you. ”
They all traipsed over to the corner of the room, where two Queen Anne-style chairs and a short loveseat were arranged in a tasteful seating area. Sasha and Yim took the chairs, leaving the divan for their hostess. She settled herself on the middle cushion, leaned back comfortably, and appraised them.
“ We ’ re here to talk to you in your capacity as the head of the Organized Crime Task Force, ” Sasha replied. She figured she may as well get to the point of their visit.
Charlotte ’ s cool demeanor evaporated. She leaned forward, suddenly alert and interested. “ Oh? ”
Sasha jerked her head sideways toward Yim. “ Before we begin. Ms. Yim
“ In danger? ” Laura echoed.
Sasha waited.
Reality hit Laura and she struggled to breathe. “ You mean the message carved in my driver ’ s door? ”
“ Probably. ”
Laura was about to ask who would do such a thing, but she stopped herself. She knew full well who. Jim Moraine, that ’ s who. All of his stupid helpful tips and veiled suggestions that she approve fire claims flooded her memory. He ’ d been watching her all along, trying to get her to comply with whatever scheme he was mixed up in. She rested her cup on the table and clasped her shaking hands together as if she were praying in a futile effort to still them.
“ This is more than plain vanilla insurance fraud, isn ’ t it? ” she whispered.
“ I think so. Arson for profit? That ’ s usually the mob. ”
The mob. As in a network of career criminals, sworn to silence, all gunning for her to keep her quiet. Laura wasn ’ t sure she ’ d be able to speak. “ What am I going to do? ”
“ I have an idea. ”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Sasha kept one eye on Yim, who sat to her left, legs crossed at the knees, swinging her top leg so violently that Sasha half-expected to see her achieve airborne status and fling herself out of the chair. With her other eye, she watched Charlotte Cashion ’ s secretary whisper into her phone ’ s handset. The woman murmured something into the phone, replaced the receiver, and stood up.
She walked around to the front of the desk and gestured for Sasha and Yim to stand. “ Ms. Cashion can see you now. ”
They followed her across the plush carpet to Charlotte Cashion ’ s office door and waited while she gave it a quick double-rap with her knuckles. After a brief pause, she opened the door inward and ushered them into the office. Charlotte was making her way across the office toward them.
“ Sasha, this is a nice surprise! ” She smiled broadly and offered a restrained hug. “ What ’ s it been — at least a couple years? ”
“ Probably. I think the last time I saw you was at Matt and Darla ’ s wedding, ” Sasha answered. She inspected the Assistant U.S. Attorney. In the two-plus years since their lovebird classmates had tied the knot, Charlotte hadn ’ t changed much. She was maybe slightly blonder and somehow slightly more moneyed-looking than she ’ d been at the wedding. Presumably, she was supplementing her government servant salary with infusions from her trust fund.
“ Speaking of weddings, I heard you had one of your own, ” Charlotte enthused. “ Congratulations! ”
“ Thanks. We ’ re coming up on a year in just a few weeks, so, you know, so far, so good. ” She waited until Charlotte finished laughing and then introduced Yim. “ Charlotte, this is Laura Yim, she ’ s a claims adjuster for an insurance company headquartered in Jersey City. ” Mid-Atlantic was one of several insurers to maintain New Jersey headquarters, so Sasha felt comfortable sharing that level of detail without securing any assurances first.
“ Pleased to me you, Miss Yim, ” Charlotte said, all business now, as she shook hands with Yim. “ I ’ m Assistant United States Attorney Charlotte Cashion. Please, have a seat and tell me what I can do for you. ”
They all traipsed over to the corner of the room, where two Queen Anne-style chairs and a short loveseat were arranged in a tasteful seating area. Sasha and Yim took the chairs, leaving the divan for their hostess. She settled herself on the middle cushion, leaned back comfortably, and appraised them.
“ We ’ re here to talk to you in your capacity as the head of the Organized Crime Task Force, ” Sasha replied. She figured she may as well get to the point of their visit.
Charlotte ’ s cool demeanor evaporated. She leaned forward, suddenly alert and interested. “ Oh? ”
Sasha jerked her head sideways toward Yim. “ Before we begin. Ms. Yim
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